Exclusive: Bolton set to beat League One rivals to sign ex-Wrexham star Sam Dalby
Bolton Wanderers are set to beat League One rivals Wigan Athletic and Blackpool to land former Wrexham striker Sam Dalby on a free transfer, sources have told Football Insider.
Dalby is a free agent after turning down a new contract at Wrexham earlier this summer, and several clubs have made offers for him.
The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at Dundee United and impressed in the Scottish Premiership, scoring 15 goals, and Bolton have moved to bring him in to bolster their attacking options.
Wanderers will be keen to land a playoff spot in Steven Schumacher’s first season in charge of the League One club.
Bolton beat Wigan and Blackpool to Dalby’s signature
The forward scored 13 goals in a total of 91 appearances for Wrexham before joining Dundee United on loan in the summer of 2024.
Dalby proved his goal-scoring credentials for Jim Goodwin’s side, helping them finish fourth in the Scottish Premiership.
The 25-year-old could prove to be an asset for Bolton in League One, as Steven Schumacher’s men look to land a playoff spot for the third time in four seasons.
Schumacher makes key steps to shaping Bolton squad
The former Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City boss took the managerial reins from ex-Bolton manager Ian Evatt in January, after the 43-year-old was sacked.
| Sam Dalby stats | Scottish Premiership 2024/25 |
| Appearances | 35 |
| Goals | 15 |
| Assists | 2 |
Evatt guided Wanderers to promotion from League Two to League One in 2021, before twice guiding the Greater Manchester outfit to a playoff place in the third tier.
But when Bolton’s top-six chances slipped away, Evatt was sacked in January, and Schumacher is now tasked with guiding the third-tier club back to the Championship for the first time since 2019.
It is therefore vital that Schumacher oversees a successful summer transfer window at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
As the former Plymouth boss looks to reshape the Wanderers squad, Football Insider exclusively reported that Swansea City had agreed to sign Ricardo Santos following his Bolton exit.
The Welsh outfit have now confirmed the defender’s signature, while the acquisition of Dalby signals an exciting step in Schumacher’s rebuild.